Cartoonist’s mousy approach lacks merit
Mike Luckovich now draws GOP presidential candidates as a bunch of multitudinous mice (Opinion, May 31). I am beginning to wonder if Luckovich himself isn’t getting a bit “squeaky” in the cheesy chaos of politics.
CATHERINE BOONE SHEALY, ATLANTA
Secular viewpoint is itself a religion
Prof. Lucas Carpenter (“Let’s affirm secular governance,” Opinion, May 30) is an example of the believer of a new, aggressive religion that has swept the land, the religion of Secularism. Its followers believe in “no God” and adhere devotedly to its novel commands and prohibitions. Non-believers are treated as infidels, and anyone in the land who sins against its laws is severely punished, no matter what their beliefs. I suggest that what is going on in this country now is not a political clash, but rather a war between religions.
EMMANUEL LANDAU M.D., ATLANTA
Religion in schools a good thing
Lucas Carpenter’s comments concerning religion in our schools sowing discord within our culture and retarding our attempts to improve moral climate and enhance the quality of human life were incomprehensible.
He is apparently oblivious to the rioting in Baltimore and Ferguson. Are these the acts of citizens with a Christian morality? Lets look at black American society as an example., since those rioters were black. White society, of course, is just as adversely affected by the abandonment of religious morality in our schools.
In our black society, 80 percent of present-day black families are fatherless, with a resulting lack of discipline in young teenagers. If religion and its call for morality were present in our schools, potential rioters would be aware of and guided by the morality decried by Carpenter. And these terrible riots would have been stymied. Would Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a religious man, have countenanced rioting? With the teaching of religious morals and values, our problems would be worked through in a civil manner with a much more successful result than rioting by people who were never taught the difference between right and wrong in our schools.
NICK O'CONNOR, SMYRNA
Cityhood not best answer now
DeKalb is not okay with me, but cityhood is not the answer, at least right now. Will problems still exist if the cities are created? Absolutely. Cityhood will not change the schools, nor will it provide a lot of the services we currently get from the county.
For once, I agree with the AJC (“Keep scrubbing DeKalb,” Editorial, May 31). Important first steps have been taken with the ethics board, county purchasing and an independent auditor, but we need to go further. We need to abolish the CEO position, and the areas commissioners represent should be determined by population to better ensure equal representation, and all jobs and pay in county government need to be reviewed.
I also agree with some of the pro-LaVista Hills points made, especially with regards to the neglect of community needs. However, I disagree on the point regarding no property tax increases. This is evidenced by the city of Brookhaven’s notice of property tax increase and the promise by the county to increase the taxes to those in cities.
Perhaps the ballot choice should be to reform county government and, if that fails, form the proposed cities.
EMILY SUHR, DECATUR
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